THE IMPOVERISHMENT OF THE SEA. 39 



an increase, though slight, at others (Rye, Brixham) where steam 

 trawlers show no signs of increase. 



§ ii. The Number of Steam Trawlers. 



The number of steam trawlers has been determined upon a different 

 plan from that followed in the case of the smacks, owing to the circum- 

 stance that they form the great majority of the steam fishing boats in 

 general. Consequently the Register has provided the basis for my 

 estimates, and the collectors' returns have been used merely for deter- 

 mining the number of deductions which should be made to cover the 

 number of steam liners, carriers, and drifters. According to the Reports 

 of the Scottish Fishery Board a certain number of English steam 

 trawlers land their fish regularly at Scottish ports. These, therefore, 

 have been also deducted. The total deductions made for the different 

 years of the decade (Table H, p. 69) are as follows : — 



1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 



Steam liners . . . 40 50 50 60 70 80 90 100 100 80 



„ drifters . .__ — _ — — 5 15 20 35 



„ carriers . . 33 32 34 37 41 39 45 45 50 50 



„ trawlers, in Scotland 30 31 37 (3 8) 39 38 35 32 31 37 



Total deductions . 103 113 121 135 150 157 175 192 201 202 



The figures representing the liners in the above table are discussed 

 below. The numbers of steamers engaged in the drift fisheries are 

 estimated from the figures returned by the collectors of statistics for 

 Grimsby and Yarmouth. They are undoubtedly excessive, since 

 Grimsby possesses no drift boats at all, and it seems probable that 

 the majority of the steamers engaged were only temporarily occupied as 

 carriers during the summer season : but as the deductions to be made 

 under this head are limited to the later years of the decade, I have 

 purposely taken the highest estimates possible in order to avoid the 

 possibility of exaggerating the catchiog power in these years. The 

 "carriers" of mackerel mentioned in the collectors' returns under 

 Neyland are not registered as fishing vessels. The Harbourmaster 

 informs me that these vessels are merely chartered for the season, and 

 are employed in the coasting trade or in towing at other times. 

 Consequently no deductions have been made for them. 



The principal uncertainty in the series of deductions concerns the 

 numbers which should be written off to cover the carriers for the 

 trawling fleets. The collectors of statistics only enumerate such vessels 

 for the ports of Yarmouth, Shadwell, and Billingsgate, and my figures 

 represent the totals for those stations. They no doubt include the 



